Buenos Aires, Argentina
Lead Designer: Ripley Rasmus, AIA
Building Size: 125,000 GSF
Site: 1.5 acres

The development consortium of Newside SA commissioned Edificio Malecon as the first building in a 4-million-square-foot planned commercial development in Puerto Madero, a redevelopment area in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. HOK provided site planning, architecture, interior design and landscape design services for the project.

The design team was charged with creating “the most technologically advanced” office building in the city within the context of a traditional speculative building pro forma.
Implicit in this mandate was the need to design a building that functioned at the cutting edge of key technologies within this market.

The design response was developed as a long, narrow slab to minimize solar gain on the structure. To ensure views to all, the slab ends are pinched at the east and west extremities of the building.

A strategy for design and construction was established prior to development of initial concepts. These strategies addressed approaches to framing, cladding, conditioning and technology integration for the building including:

• Establish a strategy to defend against the hot sun of the peak cooling season while taking advantage of the moderate climate for the remainder of the year.
  
• Maximize views and energy efficiency through the use of high-performance curtain wall systems.
  
• Harness the breeze coming from the river by providing operable windows in each potential office space.
  
• Naturally ventilate stairwells.
  
• Maximize individual control of the mechanical system.
  
• Utilize local materials within the experience of local trades.
  
• Include low-maintenance, indigenous plant materials.
  
• Maximize building flexibility and long-term effectiveness.
  
• Incorporate Green Roof to reduce heating load on large podium roof and control run-off.
  
• Utilize existing heavy, concrete warehouse basement as lower level parking 125 cars
  
• Low wattage general lighting strategy using high efficiency fluorescent down light.

These concepts evolved and were realized in the building because the team established a common set of objectives early in the process and worked together to achieve them.

Edificio Malecon has achieved a high level of architectural and urban design quality while also addressing the owner’s concerns for energy conservation, profit, and long-term operating effectiveness. The building has been recognized as a “new urban monument” at Puerto Madero; it is highly successful financially and has set a new standard for energy-efficient glass office towers in this part of the world.